Device for dispensing a fluid product, and method for filling same

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a body (1), a reservoir (10) containing one or two doses of a fluid product, said reservoir (10) comprising a plug (12) which closes off said reservoir (10) in a sealed manner before actuation, a dispensing head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice (21), and dispensing means for dispensing at least some of said fluid product through said dispensing orifice (21) during an actuation, the plug (12) being symmetrical and reversible, and the plug (12) having an internal portion (124) which is elastically deformable and which, when pressure is applied on one axial side of said plug (12) or the other, deforms in order to open a passage (15) and, when this pressure is released, returns elastically into its resting position in which it closes off the aforementioned passage (15).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for distributing a fluid product and its filling method.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a fluid product dispensing device comprising a fluid product dispensing head for dispensing one or two doses of a pharmaceutical fluid product. In this type of device, generally called a unit-dose or double-dose device, each dose of fluid product, usually a liquid, is dispensed or sprayed through a dispensing orifice upon manual actuation of the device. If the device is a unit-dose device, the entire fluid product is dispensed in a single actuation. If the device is a double-dose device, the fluid product is dispensed in two successive actuations of the device.

[0003] Generally, this type of single-dose or double-dose device is used for nasal, oral, or sublingual administration of the liquid product. In the case of nasal administration, the dispensing head includes an axial extension designed to penetrate a user's nostril during use.

[0004] This type of device can have some drawbacks. For example, single-dose or double-dose devices generally use a hollow needle, usually metallic, to pierce the stopper when activated. However, using a metallic component is expensive and makes recycling the device after use more complex. Furthermore, when the needle pierces the stopper, elastomer particles can detach and contaminate the dispensed fluid.

[0005] Documents WO0024523, WO0071262, WO2004069664 and FR2750051 describe state-of-the-art devices.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a fluid product distribution device that does not reproduce the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0007] More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a device that limits the risk of contamination of the fluid product before and during distribution.

[0008] The present invention also aims to provide such a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

[0009] The present invention therefore relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a body receiving a reservoir containing one or two doses of a fluid product, said reservoir having a cap which seals said reservoir in a hermetic manner before actuation, said body having a dispensing head provided with a dispensing orifice, and dispensing means for distributing at least a part of said fluid product through said dispensing orifice during actuation, said cap being symmetrical and reversible and therefore usable in the reservoir indifferently in either direction, said cap having an elastically deformable internal part which, when pressure is applied on one axial side of the cap or the other, deforms to open a passage, and which, when said pressure ceases, elastically returns to its rest position in which it seals said passage.

[0010] Advantageously, said internal part comprises two radially opposed domed parts stressed at rest radially against each other to seal said passage.

[0011] Advantageously, the said cap has a recess in each domed part, to facilitate the elastic deformation of said domed parts.

[0012] Advantageously, the said stopper includes an external sealing part, formed on its outer periphery.

[0013] Advantageously, said external sealing part includes at least one peripheral bead providing a seal against an internal side wall of said tank.

[0014] The present invention also relates to a method for filling a fluid product dispensing device comprising a body, a reservoir containing one or two doses of a fluid product, said reservoir having a cap which seals said reservoir tightly before actuation, a dispensing head provided with a dispensing orifice, and dispensing means for distributing at least a portion of said fluid product through said dispensing orifice upon actuation, said cap being symmetrical and reversible, said cap having an elastically deformable internal portion which, when pressure is applied to an axial side of the cap, deforms to open a passage, and which, when said pressure ceases, elastically returns to its rest position in which it seals said passage, said method comprising the following steps: said stopper is inserted into the bottom of said tank, a filling tube is inserted through said elastically deformable internal part of the stopper, said tank is filled with said fluid product, said stopper rising in said tank under the effect of the hydraulic pressure of the fluid product, said filling tube is removed after filling, said internal part deforming elastically to close said passage.

[0015] Advantageously, the filling process continues at the beginning of the withdrawal of said filling tube.

[0016] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, and in which: There figure 1is a schematic cross-sectional view of a nasal fluid delivery device according to an advantageous embodiment, The figure 2 is a schematic detail view of part of the device of the figure 1 Before activation, the figure 3 is a view similar to that of the figure 2 , currently being activated, The figures 4 to 7 are schematic views showing the tank filling phases of figures 1 to 3 , and La figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a stopper according to an advantageous embodiment variant.

[0017] The terms "proximal" and "distal" refer to the dispensing orifice. The terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal central axis of the device. The terms "superior," "inferior," "top," and "bottom" refer to the upright position of the device as depicted on the diagram. figures 1 to 7 .

[0018] With reference to the figure 1An example of a nasal dispensing device for a fluid product, to which the present invention applies, is shown. In this example, it is a single-dose device, in which the entire dose of fluid product is dispensed in a single actuation. It should be noted that the present invention could also be adapted to other types of devices, such as, for example, double-dose devices containing two doses of fluid product to be dispensed in two successive actuations of the device.

[0019] The device comprises a body 1, having a radial flange 5 for the support of the user's fingers during actuation.

[0020] A dispensing head 20, here of the nasal type, extends axially from said radial flange 5 and includes an axially oriented dispensing orifice 21. This dispensing orifice 21 serves to dispense a dose of fluid product from said dispensing head 20 when the device is actuation by a user, this dispensing being carried out by dispensing means. Advantageously, the nasal dispensing head 20 is made in one single piece with said body 1. It should be noted that the present invention could also be applied to a device comprising an oral dispensing head. More generally, the present invention applies to all types of single-dose or double-dose devices.

[0021] The body 1 receives a reservoir 10. Typically, as shown in the figures, the reservoir 10 can be formed by a hollow, blind-ended body 11, having a single opening closed by a stopper 12 and containing a single dose of fluid product to be dispensed with a single actuation of the device. Of course, in the case of a double-dose device, the reservoir 10 could contain two doses of fluid product to be dispensed in two successive actuations.

[0022] The cap 12 is made of a deformable material, such as an elastomer.

[0023] The distribution head 20 includes passage means 13 which, during actuation, connect the reservoir 10 to the distribution orifice 21. These passage means advantageously include a hollow rod, preferably one piece with the body 1, but which could also be made separately and assembled in said body 1. This hollow rod 13 opens on its proximal side into the distribution orifice 21, and cooperates on its distal side with the plug 12 to move it relative to the reservoir 10 during actuation.

[0024] The cap 12 has an external sealing portion 125, formed on its outer periphery. In the example in the figures, this sealing portion 125 has three peripheral ridges, an upper ridge, a central ridge and a lower ridge, which provide a seal against the inner side wall of the tank 10. Of course, any number of ridges could be provided, for example a single ridge.

[0025] According to the invention, the stopper 12 comprises an elastically deformable internal part 124 which, when pressure is applied to an axial side of the stopper 12, deforms to open a passage 15, as visible in the figures 3 , 5, 6 and 8When the pressure ceases, the internal part elastically returns to its rest position in which it closes said passage 15. This ensures the integrity of the fluid product before actuation, and also in the case of a bidose, ensures the integrity of the fluid product between the two doses.

[0026] Advantageously, the internal portion 124 may comprise two radially opposed curved portions 1241, 1242, which are radially forced against each other at rest to seal the passage 15. Applying axial pressure radially deforms these two curved portions away from each other to open the passage. When the pressure is released, the two curved portions elastically return to their sealing rest position.

[0027] Advantageously, the cap 12 has a recess 126 in each domed portion 1241, 1242, to facilitate the elastic deformation of the domed portions. Such a cap can notably be produced by additive manufacturing.

[0028] As shown in the figures, the cap 12 is perfectly symmetrical and therefore usable in either direction. This reversible nature of the cap 12 is advantageous, particularly during assembly. Indeed, it is not necessary to orient the cap 12 in a specific direction, thus simplifying and reducing the cost of assembly.

[0029] During actuation, the reservoir 10 is moved axially upwards relative to the body 1. During this movement, the plug 12 opens under the pressure of the fluid product, which is incompressible, to open said passage 15, then the plug 12 slides in the reservoir 10 to expel the product through said hollow rod 13. In this embodiment, it is the plug 12 that forms the distribution means.

[0030] In another embodiment, not shown in the drawings, the reservoir might not be formed by a blind hollow body with only one opening, but by a hollow cylinder open axially at both ends. This cylinder would then be closed at its proximal end by a first stopper according to the invention and at its distal end by a second standard stopper, the volume defined between said two stoppers containing the fluid product to be dispensed. When the user activates the device, they will, as described above, press axially on the actuating body to slide it axially towards the dispensing orifice. This causes the second stopper to move inside the reservoir. Since the fluid product is incompressible, this movement of the second stopper will open the first stopper, and the contents of the reservoir will be dispensed through said first stopper and said hollow rod by the second stopper, which then acts as a piston.In this embodiment, it is the second stopper that forms the distribution means.

[0031] As mentioned previously, the invention could also be applied to a bidose-type device. In this case, the reservoir's contents would be dispensed in two successive actuations. Document WO2014147329 describes an example of a bidose device.

[0032] THE figures 4 to 7 show the successive stages of an advantageous filling process.

[0033] The cap 12 is first inserted into the bottom of the reservoir 10, as visible in the figure 4 .

[0034] A filling tube 30 is then inserted between the two domed parts 1241, 1242, as visible on the figure 5 , and the reservoir 10 is filled with said fluid product, as illustrated in the figure 6 Under the effect of the hydraulic pressure of the fluid product, the plug 12 rises in the reservoir 10.

[0035] The volume of the reservoir located behind the cap 12 can therefore be filled almost completely, with the exception of the small volume occupied by the end of the filling tube 30. Advantageously, the filling continues at the beginning of the withdrawal of the filling tube, until the tube reaches the point of contact of the two domed parts, which makes it possible to eliminate the small dead volume related to the tube.

[0036] When the filling tube 30 is completely removed after filling, the two domed parts 1241, 1242 deform elastically to close the passage 15.

[0037] Advantageously, this closure of passage 15 expels any residual air that might remain in that place.

[0038] The present invention provides several advantages, including: It improves spray reproducibility by reducing variations from one reservoir to another; it avoids the use of a needle, eliminating metal from the device and preventing elastomer particles in the dispensed fluid; it helps to avoid or at least greatly limit the oxidation of the fluid product in contact with air; it uses a symmetrical and reversible cap, which simplifies its design and assembly.

[0039] Of course, other embodiments are also conceivable, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. Device for dispensing fluid product, including a body (1) receiving a reservoir (10) containing one or two doses of a fluid product, said reservoir (10) including a plug (12) which closes off said reservoir (10) in a sealed manner before actuation, said body comprising a dispensing head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice (21), and dispensing means to dispense at least some of said fluid product through said dispensing orifice (21) during actuation, characterised in that said plug (12) is symmetrical and reversible and can therefore be used in the reservoir equally well in one direction or the other, said plug (12) including an elastically deformable internal part (124) which, when pressure is applied on an axial side of the plug (12) or on the other, deforms to open a passage (15), and which, when said pressure ceases, returns elastically into its rest position, in which it closes off said passage (15).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said internal part (124) includes two radially opposite convex parts (1241, 1242) biased at rest radially against each other to close said passage (15) in a sealed manner.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said plug (12) includes a recess (126) in each convex part (1241, 1242), to facilitate the elastic deformation of said convex parts.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said plug (12) includes an external sealing part (125), formed on its external periphery.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said external sealing part (125) includes at least one peripheral bead providing sealing against an internal side wall of said reservoir (10).

6. Method for filling a device for dispensing fluid product including a body (1), a reservoir (10) containing one or two doses of a fluid product, said reservoir (10) including a plug (12) which closes off said reservoir (10) in a sealed manner before actuation, a dispensing head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice (21), and dispensing means to dispense at least some of said fluid product through said dispensing orifice (21) during actuation, said plug (12) being symmetrical and reversible, said plug (12) including an elastically deformable internal part (124) which, when pressure is applied on an axial side of the plug (12), deforms to open a passage (15), and which, when said pressure ceases, returns elastically into its rest position in which it closes off said passage (15), characterised in that said method comprises the following steps: - said plug (12) is inserted into the bottom of said reservoir (10), - a filling tube (30) is inserted through said elastically deformable internal part (124) of the plug (12), - said reservoir (10) is filled with said fluid product, said plug (12) rising up in said reservoir (10) under the effect of the hydraulic pressure of the fluid product, - said filling tube (30) is removed after filling, said internal part (124) elastically deforming to close up said passage (15).

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the filling continues at the start of the removal of said filling tube (30).

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